- 26 years experience
- Adoption and foster care
- Client-centered care
About Shakina
Shakina Small is an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) with 26 years of experience. She offers a compassionate, direct therapy style that balances listening with practical guidance to help people make real changes.
Her work often focuses on relationships, family challenges, trauma and abuse, and issues that affect self-esteem. She also helps people facing addictions, parenting strain, intimacy concerns, ADHD, and major life transitions. Adoption and foster care are listed among her additional focus areas for people seeking support around those experiences.
Shakina draws on several therapy approaches to meet each person's needs. She uses client-centered listening to build trust, cognitive behavioral techniques to shift unhelpful thinking, and skills from dialectical behavior therapy when emotions feel overwhelming. She may also bring in emotionally-focused or existential ideas depending on the situation.
Her background includes work in many settings such as schools, residential programs, foster care, and outpatient services. That range informs a practical, experience-based approach when talking through problems like trauma, family conflict, or substance concerns.
Sessions aim to identify the root of repeating patterns and set achievable steps toward healthier behavior. The therapist describes her style as empathetic, educational, and sometimes direct when honesty is needed to promote growth. People who want a straightforward, experienced counselor may find her approach helpful.
How therapy approaches guide online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and empathy. The therapist creates space for people to tell their story and helps them find their own solutions, which can be helpful for relationship and adoption-related concerns.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses clear tools and exercises to change unhelpful thinking and reduce symptoms like anxiety or depression.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) adds skills for managing strong emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness, which can help with anger, impulse control, and intense relationship conflicts.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, and then blend techniques as needed in a collaborative way.
Session formats are not listed explicitly in the therapist biography, so confirm current options before booking. When arranged, online sessions can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time. Licensed professionals adapt their methods to work well in remote sessions and support practical steps people can use between meetings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
26+ years
Credentials
Pennsylvania
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does this therapist help with?
She works with relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, self-esteem struggles, addictions, parenting, intimacy concerns, ADHD, bipolar challenges, and other life changes. Adoption and foster care are listed among her additional focus areas.
What is her therapy style and approach?
Her style is empathetic and engaging, and she can be direct when needed. She combines client-centered listening with practical techniques from CBT, DBT, EFT, and existential approaches.
How much experience does she have?
She has 26 years of experience working as a counselor in settings such as schools, residential programs, foster care, and outpatient services.
Where does she practice and what credentials does she hold?
She practices in Pennsylvania and holds the LPC credential, listed as PA LPC.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start a therapy process with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to therapist availability.